Measuring device.



PATBNTBD APR. 2, 1907.

c. H. FORT. "MEASURING DEVICE,

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1906'- mums-sum 1.

iffwix INVENTOR WITNESSES.- M

w A TTORNEYS No. 848,818. I jPAT NTBD APR 2 190-2.

- c. H. FORT.

mmsnnme DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1906.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

WJTNESSES. [NVENTOR A TTORNE 1 5 PATENT orrron.

CHARLES H. FORT, OF STAFFORD, KANSAS.

MEASURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed August l, 1906. Serial No. 328,800.

To a, whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stafford, in the county of Stafford and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Measuring Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for measuring fabrics; and its object is to provide a combined holder and measuring device which is particularly adapted for supporting and measuring heavy fabricssuch as oil-cloth, wire-netting, &c.-which are placed upon the market in rolls.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is of compact construction and which has a foldable table on which the fabric may be placed while being measured.

A still further object is to provide a straight-edge or guide whereby a straight out may be made in the fabric at the point where the same is to be severed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a rack made up of standards supporting a plurality of inclined shelves each of which is adapted to receive one or more rolls of fabric. A trough is disposed upon the rack at a desired point and is located at the inner end of a table which is constructed to fold out of the way when not in use. A straight-edge is movably connected to the rack and is adapted to bear thereon adjacent the trough, and a scale is located upon the table to facilitate the measuring of the fabric.

The invention also consists of certain novel featuresof construction and combination of parts, which will hereinafter be fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing in dotted lines the positions of the parts when raised, one end of the trough being broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. of the device. Fig. 3 is a plan view, some of the shelves being broken away to show one end of the trough; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the trough and straight-edge detached.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1. 1 are bases on which are supported standards 2, said standards being connected adjacent their ends by means of crossbraces 3. Brackets 4: extend in opposite directions from the standards, and their upper edges are inclined and support shelves 5, each of which is adapted to hold one or more rolls of fabric. Arms 6 extend from the standards at points between the ends thereof and are suitably braced by uprights 7. Arranged on these arms close to the standards 2 is a trough 8, the ends of which are closed, as shown, and a cross-strip 9 is mounted on supports 10 and extends along the rear edge of the trough and constitutes a base on which a plurality of L-bolts 11 are disposed. These bolts engage arms 12, which extend from a straight-edge 13, extending the full width of the device. This straight-edge normally rests by gravity close to the front edge of the trough and upon a bed 14, which is suitably protected, as by means of sheet metal, so as to prevent mutilation when a fabric is being cut by an implement drawn thereover. The straight-edge 13 is preferably constructed of brass or other metal which will not be easily injured by a cutting implement.

A table-section 15 is connected to the front edge of the trough by means of hinges 16, and it preferably consists of side strips 17, cross-strips 18, and slats 19. Another table-section 20, which is similarly con structed, is hinged to the front edge of the section 15, and both sections are provided along their side edges with scales 21, the

bered away from the trough 8. A supporting-strip 22 connects the forward ends of the arms 6 andserves to hold the table extended and in an inclined position when the same is in use. Then the table is not in use, the section 20 is adapted to be folded onto the section 15 and the entire table then swung up on its hinges 16, so as to be out of the way.

As heretofore stated, each of the shelves 5 is adapted to hold one or more rolls of oilcloth or other material. When it is desired to cut off a predetermined quantity of material from one of the rolls, the table is swung downward, so that the section 15 will rest on the strip 22, and the outer section 20 is then swung outward, so as to form a continuation of the section 15. The roll from which the material is to be cut is then removed from its edge 13 and its arms 12 having first been swung into an upright position. After the roll has been placed in this manner the same is partly unwound and drawn over the table unshelf and placed in the trough 8, the straight graduations of which are consecutively numholding device.

til the desired length to be severed has been designated by the scales 2 1. The straight-edge 13 is then swung downward onto the unwound portion of the roll and will aline with the first graduation of each scale. A knife or other cutting-tool is then drawn along the straightedge and will cut off the fabric. A straight out is thus insured, and the proper length of material is severed. After the roll has been cut in this manner it can be removed from the trough and replaced on its proper shelf, and if no other rolls are to be cut the table can be folded, as hereinbefore described.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of the invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as clearly fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a roll-holding device and a support therefor, of a foldable table pivotally connected to said device, and scale upon the table.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a-roll-holding device and a support therefor, of a foldable table pivotally connected to said device, a scale upon the table, and a straight-edge movably connected to and normally disposed upon the 3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trough and a support therefor, of a table pivotally connected to the trough, and a scale upon the table.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a trough and a support therefor, of a table pivotally connected to the l trough, a scale upon the table, and a straight- 1 edge 'movably connected to and normally restin upon the trough adjacent the table.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a holding-trough and a support therefor, of a sectional table pivotsupported thereby, of a sectional table pivotally connected to the trough, and means for supporting the table in extended position.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rack and a trough supported thereby, of a sectional table pivotally connected to the trough, means for supporting the table in extended position, and a scale upon the table.

9. I11 a device of the character described, the combination with a rack and a trough supported thereby, of a sectional table pivotally connected to the trough, means for supporting the table in extended position, a scale upon the table, a straight-edge normally-resting upon the trough adjacent the table, and arms extending therefrom and pivotally connected to the rack.

10. In a device of the character described,

the combination with supporting-standards and inclined shelves carried thereby; of a trough supported by the standards, a foldable table pivotally connected to and adapted to fold over the trough, means connected to the standards for supporting the table in extended position, and a straight-edge movably connected to the standards and normally bearing upon the trough adjacent the table.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. FORT. WVitnesses CHAS. C. PETTENGILL, C. R. HoYT. 

